Hazard defense system and methods thereof

Abstract

A hazard defense system ( 100 ) includes a plurality of defense elements ( 104 ), and a controller ( 112 ). Each defense element can be located in an area ( 101 ) and each element includes at least one sensor ( 205 ) for monitoring at least one hazard and defense factor, a transceiver ( 202 ), and a processor ( 203 ) coupled to the at least one sensor and transceiver. The system is programmed to monitor ( 302 ) at least one hazard and defense factor, inform ( 304 ) the controller of the at least one defense factor, detect ( 306 ) a hazard at one or more defense elements, inform ( 308 ) the controller of the hazard, establish ( 310 ) an exit strategy at the controller according to the hazard and at least one defense factor, inform ( 312 ) the plurality of defense elements of the exit strategy, and direct ( 314 ) one or more individuals out of the area according to the exit strategy.

1 . In a hazard defense system comprising a plurality of defense elements coupled to a controller, each defense element located in an area, a method comprising the steps of: 
 monitoring at least one of a hazard and a defense factor at the plurality of defense elements;    informing the controller of the at least one defense factor from the plurality of defense elements;    detecting a hazard at one or more of the plurality of defense elements;    informing the controller of the hazard;    establishing an exit strategy at the controller according to the hazard and the at least one defense factor from the plurality of defense elements;    informing the plurality of defense elements of the exit strategy; and    directing one or more individuals at each of the plurality of defense elements out of the area according to the exit strategy.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of activating a hazard countermeasure at the one or more defense elements to eradicate the hazard in whole or in part.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more individuals are directed according to a select one or more of audible instructions and visual instructions.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of repeating the aforementioned steps to capture updates and make adjustments accordingly.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one defense factor comprises at least one of a group of monitored conditions in the area comprising progress of the hazard, toxin concentrations, temperature, location of one or more individuals, density of individuals, egress routes, location of one or more emergency personnel, state of controller, and structural conditions.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the exit strategy is established according to a select one or more of the group of monitored conditions captured by the plurality of defense elements.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 establishing a hazard defense strategy at the controller according to the hazard and the at least one defense factor from the plurality of defense elements; and    directing one or more emergency personnel according to the hazard defense strategy.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising the steps of: 
 informing a remote controller located outside of the area of the group of monitored conditions captured by the plurality of defense elements; and    presenting the group of monitored conditions to an administrator of the remote controller.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the step of directing management of traffic control systems from the controller according to the hazard defense strategy to provide emergency personnel a vehicular egress and ingress strategy for addressing the hazard.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of defense elements are coupled to each other, and where the method further comprises the steps of: 
 detecting at the plurality of defense elements a malfunction in the controller; and    reverting to a distributed defense method comprising the steps of: 
 sharing information among the plurality of defense elements including the hazard and the at least one defense factor monitored by the plurality of defense elements;  
 establishing an exit strategy at each of the plurality of defense elements according the hazard and the at least one defense factor from the plurality of defense elements; and  
 directing one or more individuals at each of the plurality of defense elements out of the area according to their respective exit strategy.  
   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 detecting at the controller a malfunction in one or more of the plurality of defense elements;    establishing an updated exit strategy according to the malfunction;    informing the plurality of defense elements of the updated exit strategy; and    directing one or more individuals at each of the plurality of defense elements out of the area according to the updated exit strategy.    
   
   
       12 . In a hazard defense system comprising a plurality of defense elements coupled to each other and each located in an area, a method comprising the steps of: 
 monitoring at least one of a hazard and a defense factor at the plurality of defense elements;    detecting a hazard at one or more of the plurality of defense elements;    sharing information among the plurality of defense elements including the hazard and the at least one defense factor monitored by the plurality of defense elements;    establishing an exit strategy at each of the plurality of defense elements according the hazard and the at least one defense factor from the plurality of defense elements; and    directing one or more individuals at each of the plurality of defense elements out of the area according to their respective exit strategy.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of choosing the exit strategy from a list of predetermined exit strategies according to the information shared among the plurality of defense elements.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of activating a hazard countermeasure at the one or more defense elements to eradicate the hazard in whole or in part.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more individuals are directed according to a select one or more of audible instructions and visual instructions, and wherein the method further comprises the step of repeating the aforementioned steps to capture updates and make adjustments accordingly.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one defense factor comprises at least one of a group of monitored conditions in the area comprising progress of the hazard, toxin concentrations, temperature, location of one or more individuals, density of individuals, egress routes, location of one or more emergency personnel, state of controller, and structural conditions, and wherein the exit strategy is established according to a select one or more of the group of monitored conditions captured by the plurality of defense elements.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the steps of: 
 establishing a hazard defense strategy at each of the plurality of defense elements according to the information shared by the plurality of defense elements; and    directing one or more emergency personnel at each of the plurality of defense elements according to the hazard defense strategy.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the steps of: 
 informing a remote controller located outside of the area of the group of monitored conditions captured by the plurality of defense elements; and    presenting the group of monitored conditions to an administrator of the remote controller.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the steps of: 
 detecting at a portion of the plurality of defense elements a malfunction in one or more of the plurality of defense elements;    establishing an updated exit strategy at each of the portion of the plurality of defense elements according to the malfunction;    directing one or more individuals at each of the portion of the plurality of defense elements out of the area according to their respective updated exit strategy.    
   
   
       20 . A hazard defense system, comprising: 
 a plurality of defense elements; and    a controller coupled to the plurality of defense elements;    wherein each of the plurality of defense elements is located in an area, and wherein each of the plurality of defense elements comprises: 
 at least one sensor for monitoring at least one of a hazard and a defense factor;  
 a transceiver; and  
 a processor coupled to the at least one sensor and the transceiver; and wherein the hazard defense system is programmed to:  
 monitor at least one of a hazard and a defense factor at the plurality of defense elements;  
 inform the controller of the at least one defense factor from the plurality of defense elements;  
 detect a hazard at one or more of the plurality of defense elements;  
 inform the controller of the hazard;  
 establish an exit strategy at the controller according to the hazard and the at least one defense factor from the plurality of defense elements;  
 inform the plurality of defense elements of the exit strategy; and  
 direct one or more individuals at each of the plurality of defense elements out of the area according to the exit strategy.